Other Films

    Our first trip into New Orleans was for a news report only a few days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. During that trip, we found that we had to do more, too much was being passed over for mere sensationalism.

    We began meeting the people of the area, and started seeing the stories behind the news. Stories of people, stories of life and responsibilities that were only going to continue after the news personnel were gone. We felt that we were being called to bring these stories out.

    Our minds were set, no questions remained. We knew there was a new project and that project was "Voices of Katrina." The next year of our lives would be consumed with producing this film.

    We heard of a group in New Orleans that was dropping everything in their lives to help Hurricane Victims in the area: Malik Rahim, a former Black Panther, began organizing the Common Ground Collective in the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina. His original vision was to help a few people out, taking food to people that had stayed in New Orleans during the storm. That vision soon expanded as he found the need of supplies, medical assistance, housing and more.

    The Common Ground Collective grew into a totally volunteer organization that has, to date, provided over one million dollars in support to Hurricane Katrina victims. Their continuing work includes the Woodlands Project, an abandoned complex of over 300 two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments being reconditioned to supply reasonably priced housing to the people of New Orleans. It also includes the Common Ground Heath Clinics, currently numbering five and still growing.

    Because of the mission of the Common Ground Collective, its volunteers and the clients they assist, a portion of the proceeds from this film will be donated to their cause.